An ode to the Toppola hatch-camper

Cargo capacity, the Swedish way.

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It started as a frustrated exchange of words while on a visit to the nearest IKEA. "We can't buy any of the stuff we really need because nothing will fit
in the BMW." My 5-series saloon doesn't have a folding rear seat, and the ski pass-through hatch is about the size of an iPad. So, no new patio furniture
or hall mirror this time. "If you want any of this stuff, we'll need to get the Saab you hate," I countered. I've been considering one of the last
classic-shape Saab 900s, and its cavernous load capabilities, for a while now.

Later on, I relayed my IKEA frustrations to a friend, and his reply was: "Why not get a Toppola, too?" The Toppola, for those not super-well versed in
Swedish automotive spin-offs, is the detachable camper add-on tailored to exactly match the shapes and contours of a Saab 900's rear end. You remove the
rear hatch, mount the tall, plastic camper bulge, and off you go. The amount of IKEA goods a Toppola can hold is surely nothing short of enormous, and the
weight addition is a mere 250 lbs.

This is where the story takes an even weirder turn. I'm not ashamed to say I lean to the left brain lobe when making car choices, and I've driven and
admired a number of Citroën BXs in my time. The partially plastic-bodied, Bertone-designed family hatchback is still classic Citroën, meaning it
has the adjustable hydropneumatic suspension and a Toppola's worth of French oddness. And I love them.

But here's where it gets good: you can get a Toppola for the BX. The plastic fantastic family hatch will sacrifice its hatch to the gods of practicality in
order to incorporate a camper section, exactly like the 900 does. And it even sort of suits it.

Despite a BX Toppola having been advertised at a Swedish classified ad website some time ago, I can't quite make the plunge. For the time being, I'm
restricted to buying only bread, herring and coffee from IKEA, since nothing bigger will fit in my car.